Sunday, August 14, 2011

3.1 Sexual and Asexual reproduction

"The genetic information passed from parent to offspring is contained in genes carried by chromosomes in the nucleus."

Asexual reproduction = reproducing without the interaction of two sexes.

Cell division is the basis for asexual reproduction. Only one type of cell is involved, with no input from another individual. Because no new genetic material is introduced, there is no variation in the resulting offspring.
Since the offspring from this process contain the same genetic material as one another they are described as a clone.

Example: asexual reproduction occurs in plants+ bacteria

Sexual reproduction = involves the fusion of two special cells called gametes, one from a male source and one from a female source.

Fertilization is the process that takes place and so when the nuclei fuse the resulting fertilized egg has an individual genetic makeup. In contrast to asexual reproduction, sexual reproduction introduces variation into offspring.